up and down, up and down, repeat

a farmers’ market is just an outdoor mall sometimes, and links

I wrote this post Saturday noonish, after returning from a morning out at the farmers’ market. I’ve noticed that far too often the term “farmers’ market” is thrown around when the event is actually more of an arts-and-crafts fair. This one today certainly was. I only saw two booths actually selling produce. Most of the vendors were selling seashell earrings, craft breads, birdhouses made out of salvaged wood, and so on. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s enjoyable for the kids (lots of music, balloons and this weekend, Easter Eggs). But going to one of these so-called “farmers’ markets” is no more than a trip to a mall. It’s outdoors, and it’s more pleasant, handcrafted stuff than the plastic-and-polyester junk at a mall, but it’s still people trying to get you to drop money on junk you don’t need.

Links of the week:

Defense Beats Offense: I agree, for the most part, but to use a football analogy all the defense in the world isn’t going to help you when you’re losing. If you’re deeply in debt – I’m talking six figures – you may need to play some offense and increase your earnings, or you’ll spend a long time waiting for coupon clipping to save you. I’m not saying you shouldn’t, but if you start a side business and establish a new wealth stream, you’re going to pay it off faster than you can by pennypinching alone.

Postpone College In Order to Pay For It With Cash?: Maybe not postpone, but if you have to take out more than $40,000 or so in today’s dollars, you would be better off either (a) going somewhere less expensive or (b) postponing college and working instead. Incurring more debt than your expected first year’s salary is, frankly, stupid.

How to Make Extra Money with Your Brain: Your brain is, of course, the main instrument of wealth-building unless you’re a pro athlete, and even then I’d argue that the difference between a run-of-the-mill pro athlete and a star athlete is probably linked more to the brain than to pure physical prowess.

Should You Do a Roth Conversion?: I’ve been debating this, but my conspiracy theory brain always kicks in: I do not believe that in the 2040s, when I’d be withdrawing from a Roth, that they will still be tax-free. I think our brilliant leaders will find a way to penalize “rich people” who have bothered to save money in their “fancy tax shelters” and we’ll see means-based withdrawal taxes. You just wait and see. It’s coming, sooner or later, for ALL retirement savings. The middle class “rich” who relied on the honesty of the government (seldom see those four words in a row, do you?) will see that all of these promised benefits will be jettisoned to take care of a war with Canada or Myanmar or whoever’s playing Eastasia that year (we have always been at war with Eurasia, Winston). End rant.

Is Your Budget Making You Bitter?: I don’t budget, although I probably should, but I live a frugal enough lifestyle combined with making a fair amount of income. I try never to let myself regret things like a nice evening out. If you have the ability to enjoy a pleasant evening out, enjoy it at least once in a while. It’s like dieting – once or twice a year you can have a piece of chocolate cake. It’s not like having a heroin addiction where you need to swear off cake (or eating out) forever.

Highest Paying College Degrees: I’m always surprised that engineering hangs in there at the top in various forms. Having spent the last six years on Wall Street and seeing the wild salaries there, I’d assume finance would be at the top, but I guess for every Gordon Gecko there are 2,000 Johnny Banktellers who make $30,000 a year. I’ll tell you one thing: I wouldn’t bet against an accounting degree for a money maker, though.

3 comments

My local farmer's market is the perfect place to offer my handmade soaps for sale. The sale of my soaps is the only way I have right now to supplement my disability income – which isn't a living wage. Perhaps we're not all out there “trying to get you to drop money on junk you don’t need.” Everybody needs soap, and the other arts & crafts are often suitable for gift-giving.

Additionally, if you want to help keep your local economy going I suggest you spend some money on those arts & crafts rather than buying the cheap imported crap. Every dollar helps!

I have to agree with you on the Roth, and the 401K for that matter. In a better world, having these would be a badge of prudence; today, they are money to be tapped by a government that spends a trillion dollars (yes, a trillion) more than it takes in.

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